System and method for uniquely identifying physical trading cards and incorporating trading card game items in a video game

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10668367-B2
Application number	US-201514883115-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A system and method for uniquely identifying physical trading cards and/or incorporating trading card game items in a video game is provided. In certain implementations, a unique code that identifies a trading card may be obtained. A graphical representation of the unique code may be generated based on a graphical coding scheme. The graphical representation of the unique code may comprise at least a part of: (1) a depiction of a game item that is usable in the video game; or (2) a border of the trading card. Content associated with the depiction of the game item may be obtained. The trading card may be generated based on the content associated with the depiction of the game item and the graphical representation of the unique code such that the generated trading card depicts the game item and the graphical representation of the unique code.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of creating trading cards for use with a video game and integrating associated unique codes as part of the content of the trading cards, the method being implemented in a computer system having one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions which, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the computer system to perform the method, the method comprising:
obtaining, by the computer system, a unique code that identifies a trading card;
generating, by the computer system, based on a graphic coding scheme, a graphical representation of the unique code, wherein the graphical representation is a visually perceptible non-alphanumeric representation of the unique code and is part of a non-unique depiction of a game item that is usable in the video game and wherein the graphic coding scheme is configured to transform the unique code into the graphical representation of the unique code;
generating, by the computer system and based on the graphic coding scheme, a graphical representation of an error code, wherein the graphic coding scheme is configured to transform the error code into the graphical representation of the error code;
obtaining, by the computer system, content associated with the depiction of the game item;
generating, by the computer system, the trading card based on the content associated with the depiction of the game item, the graphical representation of the error code, and the graphical representation of the unique code such that the generated trading card depicts the game item, the graphical representation of the error code, and the graphical representation of the unique code;
using a card validation system to acquire and determine the unique code from the trading card and to acquire and determine the error code from the trading card; and
using the error code, by the card validation subsystem, to detect and/or correct an error relating to an incorrect determination of the unique code.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the game item comprises at least one of: (1) a character in the video game that is to be depicted on the trading card; (2) an in-game accessory for use in the video game that is to be depicted on the trading card; or (3) a power for use in the video game that is to be depicted on the trading card.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the unique code comprises respective graphical representations of bits corresponding to the unique code.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the unique code comprises at least one of: (1) an aspect of a character in the video game that is to be depicted on the trading card; (2) an aspect of an in-game accessory in the video game that is to be depicted on the trading card; or (3) an aspect of a power in the video game that is to be depicted on the trading card.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining, by the computer system, versioning information associated with the trading card, wherein the versioning information identifies a trading card set version; and
selecting, by the computer system, the graphic coding scheme based on the trading card set version;
wherein the graphic coding scheme is used to generate the graphical representation of the unique code based on the selection of the graphic coding scheme.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
obtaining, by the computer system, a version icon based on the trading card set version;
wherein the trading card is generated based on the content associated with the depiction of the game item, the graphical representation of the unique code, and the version icon such that the generated trading card depicts the game item, the graphical representation of the unique code, and the version icon.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
obtaining, by the computer system, based on the trading card set version, a template for generating the trading card;
wherein the trading card is generated based on the content associated with the depiction of the game item, the graphical representation of the unique code, and the template such that the generated trading card depicts the game item and the graphical representation of the unique code in accordance with the template.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a set of trading cards comprises the trading card and one or more other trading cards, the method further comprising:
providing, by the computer system, to a printing system, information related to a first portion of the generated trading card that is unique to the generated trading card with respect to the set of trading cards;
providing, by the computer system, to the printing system, information related to a second portion of the generated trading card that is common to the set of trading cards;
providing, by the computer system, to the printing system, an indication that the information related to the second portion of the generated trading card is to be used to respectively print a corresponding portion of the one or more other trading cards;
providing, by the computer system, to the printing system, information related to one or more portions of the one or more other trading cards that are respectively unique to the one or more other trading cards with respect to the set of trading cards;
wherein the generated trading card is printed based on the information related to the first portion of the generated trading card and the information related to the second portion of the generated trading card; and
wherein the one or more other trading cards are printed based on the information related to the one or more other portions of the one or more other trading cards, the information related to the second portion of the generated trading card, and the indication that the information related to the second portion of the generated trading card is to be used to respectively print a corresponding portion of the one or more other trading cards.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
obtaining, by the computer system, from the printing system, a request for information related to a trading card portion that is common to the set of trading cards;
wherein the indication that the information related to the second portion of the generated trading card is to be used to respectively print a corresponding portion of the one or more other trading cards is provided by providing, by the computer system, the information related to the second portion of the generated trading card in response to the request for the information related to the common trading card portion.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing one or more printing instructions indicating that the information related to the second portion of the generated trading card is to be used to respectively print a corresponding portion of the one or more other trading cards.

11. A system for creating trading cards for use with a video game and integrating associated unique codes as part of the content of the trading cards, the system comprising:
a computer system comprising one or more physical processors programmed with computer program instructions which, when executed by the one or more physical processors, causes the computer system to:
obtain a unique code that identifies a trading card;
generate, based on a graphic coding scheme, a graphical representation of the unique code, wherein the graphical representation is a visually perceptible non-alphanumeric representation of the unique code and is part of a non-unique depiction of a game item that is usable in the video game and wherein the graphic coding scheme is configured to transform

Assignees

• Activision Publishing Inc

Inventors

• Linden John P
• Watkins Iii James R
• Medeiros Ryan H
• Pasteris Paul G

Classifications

• A63F2009/2425

  Scanners, e.g. for scanning regular characters · CPC title

• A63F13/69

  by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions · CPC title

• A63F13/213 Primary

  comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A63F1/02

  Cards; Special shapes of cards · CPC title

• A63F13/25

  Output arrangements for video game devices · CPC title